Some progress...

**LCAS_712** · August 5th, 2009, 08:26 PM

Where was you at yesterday R13? I thought something had happened to ya since you wasnt on here...

**R13** · August 6th, 2009, 01:12 AM

Naw man, was busy and laid low. I always thought that if I left, it'd be a consensus of "good riddance". I appreciate it though.

**Gotch** · August 6th, 2009, 01:41 PM

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports:

A Republican senator is calling for the White House to suspend a new project that asks members of the public to flag “fishy” claims about President Obama’s health care plans, arguing that it raises privacy concerns and will serve to chill free speech.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is sending a letter to the White House today asking the president to “cease this program immediately” -- or to explain how Americans’ privacy will be protected if e-mails are forwarded to the White House as requested.

“I am not aware of any precedent for a President asking American citizens to report their fellow citizens to the White House for pure political speech that is deemed ‘fishy’ or otherwise inimical to the White House’s political interests,” Cornyn writes

“I can only imagine the level of justifiable outrage had your predecessor asked Americans to forward emails critical of his policies to the White House. I suspect that you would have been leading the charge in condemning such a program -- and I would have been at your side denouncing such heavy-handed government action.”

Yesterday, White House director of new media Macon Phillips wrote a blog posting urging readers to flag questionable claims about health care proposals.

“There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to [email protected].”

Cornyn specifically asks whether those who quote the president’s past statements -- such as his 2003 statement that he was a “proponent” of single-payer care -- qualifies as “disinformation.” He also asks what actions the White House would take against those engaging in “fishy” speech.

**Gotch** · August 6th, 2009, 01:44 PM

^ This wouldn't be a problem if it was funded by the DNC or a private group, but the government has absolutely no business doing this.

**CoeburnCane** · August 6th, 2009, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by Gotch

^ This wouldn't be a problem if it was funded by the DNC or a private group, but the government has absolutely no business doing this.

Agreed on that.

IF the WH is going to do anything like this, they should have said from the get-go that they want to know the complaints/claims out there so they can respond to each e-mail one-by-one so as to repudiate some of the out-there falsehoods some people are claiming (it's gonna kill your grandmother, govt run healthcare doesn't work--it's socialism, etc).

I agree that the WH should either come out and say something similar to that, and also ensure the privacy of those who do any type of reporting. If they can't do that, then discontinue the thing altogether.

**R13** · August 6th, 2009, 02:03 PM

Is this the same ones sending the letters to disrupt(purposely try to throw the speaker of track) at the healthcare rallies and town-hall meetings? With the total lies the opponents have thrown out, this isn't a bad idea. The claims get more ridiculous by the day. It's fine if someone disagrees, but to purposely lie is sickening. Wouldn't be half as bad if they had a plan or just wasn't opposing for the sake of opposing.

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CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - Seventh Republican to support Sotomayor - Blogs from CNN.com

**R13** · August 10th, 2009, 09:08 PM

CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - White House launches health care ‘reality check’ Web site - Blogs from CNN.com

**Biggin** · August 10th, 2009, 09:27 PM

i hope the guy didnt mean it as literal as it sounds.
i do think the public should be well informed and know exactly what is true and what isnt, but it isnt okay to ask people to forward that stuff to the WH email.

i think they should put out a full complete list of everything, put it in all the newspapers and broadcast it all over TV, but not ask citizens to send in false papers.

that would be the best way to let people know the truth and dispell the lies and rumors.

and it wasnt obama that asked people to do that, it was a press person.

but i would like to see a comprehensive essay listing all the important information about the health care plan.